This is a more traditional Regency romance novel, with some suspense elements that would classify it as a Regency Noir as the hero and heroine deal with some big issues while falling in love at the same time.

Charlotte Castlemaine has been the toast of the area ever since her coming out, and is expected to ‘marry well’.

Her aunt, who helped raise her after her mother died, and her friend Agnes, have all been pushing her into the arms of Herbert Paxton, who seems to be besotted with her.

Thomas Eltham, the Duke of Ellesmere, knows Paxton is nothing more than a fortune hunter, who has destroyed his sister Jane and is bent on ruining everything Thomas treasures most in the world, his younger sister Elizabeth, and the lives of his best friends the Rakehells, Jonathan, Clifford and their set.

Fate takes a hand when he overhears Paxton and Charlotte’s plans to elope. He races to be first on the scene, and cleverly arranges it so the carriage will be found by Charlotte’s father, before any real harm is done.

But one kiss between them is so explosive, it sets off a shocking series of events which only ends with the stunning conclusion to this fast-paced Regency romance novel.

It is clear Thomas loves her from the outset, but that love is tested in the book and grows into not just passion, but the kind of magical love that happily ever afters are made of.

Charlotte is stunned-here is yet another fortune hunter, or so she thinks; he cleverly never tells her about Paxton’s crimes, but lets her sort out true love from false pretence and she grows from girl to alluring adult woman in the course of the book in a convincing way.

I love how intimate the couples are, that you can really see them falling in love in every scene.

I loved the characters, and the one negative review that said the book was preachy must be referring to the really clever wedding scene, in which Thomas is saying his vows like he means them, while Charlotte is feeling more and more trapped and getting ready to run for it. Very cleverly done, and a lovely part of the book, again perfect for people who don’t want a lot of sex scenes in a romance (though there are some really good ones!!)

Fortunately, the passion they share wins Charlotte over, and as she gets to know Thomas, Charlotte is sure that he is the only man for her. Now, if she can only convince Thomas that she loves him for himself, not his money or title!

This had a lot of suspense, maybe not that many love scenes compared to other books, (the first three in the series, for example, compared to the later ones, which are more spicy) but really sexy characters and a lot os suspense as I waited to see if the snakes in the grass would all get found out by Charlotte. The end was a cliffhanger for sure.

From the moment we meet Thomas, he kept me turning the pages in this entertaining, fast read. The chemistry between the couple was terrific despite all the misunderstandings on each person’s part, and there is the big issue of if Charlotte ever was seduced by Paxton or not that makes Thomas afraid he may never win her love, but they work as a team to take on the world and win. The book was supenseful, a perfect conclusion, and also made me eager to read the next books, Jonathan’s romance with “The Miss Matched”, his sister Sarah as “The Matchless Miss,” (hotter) and Elizabeth, Thomas’ sister, taking a chance on love in “The Scarred Heart.” (even more spicy).